Dodgers cruise in opener

Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven dominant innings, Max Muncy hit an early, three-run homer and the Dodgers beat the Braves 6-0 in their NL Division Series opener Thursday in Los Angeles.

Picked as a surprising Game 1 starter over fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw, Ryu delivered in his first postseason start since 2014. The South Korean allowed four singles, struck out eight and walked none.

The 31-year-old Ryu missed 3½ months of the season with a groin strain and returned Aug. 15 to post a 1.88 ERA in 52⅔ innings.

The Dodgers set franchise and NL records by hitting 235 homers during the regular season, and their tear continued with three more to begin their playoffs. The defending NL champions actually were outhit 6-5 by Atlanta, but the Braves only got singles.

Joc Pederson’s leading shot in the bottom of the first rattled Mike Foltynewicz in his postseason debut. Foltynewicz gave up four runs and three hits in two innings.

Brewers bounce back

Mike Moustakas scored MVP front-runner Christian Yelich with a two-out single in the 10th inning, and the Brewers bounced back to beat the Rockies 3-2 in their NLDS opener.

After giving up two runs in the ninth that made it 2-2, the Brewers regrouped quickly. Making their first postseason appearance since 2011, they won their ninth consecutive game overall.

Yelich had two hits, scored twice and stole a base in his playoff debut.

Josh Hader and the Brewers allowed just one hit over eight innings in a dominant bullpen game and led 2-0 before Jeremy Jeffress gave up three straight singles to open the ninth.

Charlie Blackmon grounded an RBI single shortly after his ground-rule double was overruled on replay review, and Nolan Arenado added a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to tie it.